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Is it okay for me to take study leave unofficially?

Hi, so obviously, GCSEs are soon. I have autism and ADHD, and I recently went through some pretty tough burnout after half term ended. During the half term, I was great. Revising 5 hours a day, feeling super positive and motivated. Then we went back to school and I couldn’t deal with the amount of energy I use up at school all day by being in that environment and masking and the constant pressure and the fact everything is so stressed and disorganised.

So, I was now unable to manage doing anything outside of school at all. Couldn’t bring myself to pick up a textbook.

Due to these circumstances, I’ve had a few days off consecutively now. And I’m back into being really good with my studying, in a calm, stress free environment, going at my pace and working on what I need to work on. I don’t feel depressed, and I actually have energy! I feel constant stress in classrooms, I always have, and now more than ever, I think it would be best for me to stay home until my exams start, so I’m actually mentally and academically prepared and calm.

My mum has emailled the school and asked for a meeting, but I’m just worried I’m making the wrong choice. I feel like I learn better and more efficiently at home, but what if I’m wrong? What if it makes me lose marks?

I’d really appreciate any advice/input anyone has.

Reply 1

Original post
by JaggedJim
Hi, so obviously, GCSEs are soon. I have autism and ADHD, and I recently went through some pretty tough burnout after half term ended. During the half term, I was great. Revising 5 hours a day, feeling super positive and motivated. Then we went back to school and I couldn’t deal with the amount of energy I use up at school all day by being in that environment and masking and the constant pressure and the fact everything is so stressed and disorganised.
So, I was now unable to manage doing anything outside of school at all. Couldn’t bring myself to pick up a textbook.
Due to these circumstances, I’ve had a few days off consecutively now. And I’m back into being really good with my studying, in a calm, stress free environment, going at my pace and working on what I need to work on. I don’t feel depressed, and I actually have energy! I feel constant stress in classrooms, I always have, and now more than ever, I think it would be best for me to stay home until my exams start, so I’m actually mentally and academically prepared and calm.
My mum has emailled the school and asked for a meeting, but I’m just worried I’m making the wrong choice. I feel like I learn better and more efficiently at home, but what if I’m wrong? What if it makes me lose marks?
I’d really appreciate any advice/input anyone has.

You dont need/want advice you want permission. Your plan sounds well thought out and you are already seeing the benefits, so based on what you have said you should just trust yourself. Good luck with your GCSEs.

Greg

Reply 2

Have you finished all the content for all your subjects though? If you’re in a good mental state then there’s no point in missing school if you haven’t finished learning yet. Study leaves are only applicable when you’ve finished year 11. Perhaps you could ask your school for private study sessions instead of being overwhelmed in a classroom??

Reply 3

Original post
by ekhsaa_18
Have you finished all the content for all your subjects though? If you’re in a good mental state then there’s no point in missing school if you haven’t finished learning yet. Study leaves are only applicable when you’ve finished year 11. Perhaps you could ask your school for private study sessions instead of being overwhelmed in a classroom??

Yeah, we’ve finished all the content for most subjects apart from Film, Sociology, and English Literature. I am studying the content in my own time and I feel like I know it, my teachers have also been sending me the lesson slides so I’ve gone over that too.

My worry is that my knowledge won’t be up to the standards they’d want regarding the content I missed, but I mean I am studying the missed content a lot and I am passionate about those subjects specifically, so I reckon I’m fine content wise? Not sure though, can’t seem to trust in myself that I’m making the right choice.

Reply 4

Original post
by JaggedJim
Yeah, we’ve finished all the content for most subjects apart from Film, Sociology, and English Literature. I am studying the content in my own time and I feel like I know it, my teachers have also been sending me the lesson slides so I’ve gone over that too.
My worry is that my knowledge won’t be up to the standards they’d want regarding the content I missed, but I mean I am studying the missed content a lot and I am passionate about those subjects specifically, so I reckon I’m fine content wise? Not sure though, can’t seem to trust in myself that I’m making the right choice.


If you think your teachers might doubt your knowledge you could past papers and ask them to mark it for you instead of yourself, that way it’s easier to spot any knowledge you definitely don’t know..? Although it still effective when your not in school

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